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"I have heard from more than one University of Virginia official that the building and façade is the prettiest on campus," boasts Celli. "I am extremely happy with the way things turned out."

Project Information

University of Virginia's Bavaro Hall Inspired by Thomas Jeffereson's Architecture

Entering its third century in 2020, University of Virginia (UVA) positions its campus for continued growth and success as it continues the vision of its founder, Thomas Jefferson, for an "academical village" in which learning would be an integral part of daily life. Contributing to UVA's enduring vision and the architectural tradition established by Jefferson, Kolbe's windows and doors are featured on several campus buildings including the renovated Rouss Hall and Monroe Hall, and the new LEED® Gold certified Bavaro Hall.

"Kolbe established a reputation with UVA for being able to accommodate all types of products on many different projects," explains Tom Sanders, general manager of Shenandoah Sash and Door. "The buildings from Jefferson's time were designed with extremely tall windows to maximize both the natural light and ventilation. Some of the oldest buildings on campus have triple hung windows where the sash could be positioned in the middle of the opening to promote cross ventilation, or positioned at the top of the opening to function as a doorway."

With the completion of Bavaro Hall for the 2010-11 academic year, the Curry School of Education has a facility consistent with both UVA's architectural and academic heritage and twenty-first century environmental goals. Today, the new four-story Bavaro Hall includes 55 faculty offices, 10 conference rooms, five specialized program area suites, four administrative suites, a multipurpose room for lectures, meetings, and special events, and a two-story atrium designed as a central gathering area. Encompassing 65,000 square feet, Bavaro Hall nearly doubles the school's workspace and enables it to house in a single complex faculty, educational research professionals, students and publicly accessible clinics.

Easily recognizable, the new Bavaro Hall was designed by Darden School architect Robert A.M. Stern. The firm describes the project as: "Located on a steeply sloped site on Emmet Street, at the western perimeter of the University of Virginia's historic Central Grounds, Bavaro Hall features simple massing and traditional detailing – red brick and limestone façades with painted wood trim, six-over-six double-hung windows, and metal standing-seam roof – to present a fresh face that is in keeping with the architectural traditions first established at the Lawn by Thomas Jefferson."

Bringing this legacy to life at Bavaro Hall, Donley's mid-Atlantic regional office served as construction manager. "Kolbe was an integral part of our success and the project," says Robert Celli, Donley's director of preconstruction. "It started for me at the factory tour when we got the inside look at how things were handled, engineered and constructed. I went away that day feeling like I had just been with old world craftsmen, albeit working in a 1 million square-foot facility."

Guided by Shenandoah Sash and Door, Donley's selected and installed more than 200 Kolbe Ultra Series windows for Bavaro Hall. These included casements; half circle, elliptical and other radius windows; but the majority were Sterling double hung units. They vary in size with the largest double hungs reaching dimensions of 75 by 106-1/8 inches. Some of these oversized units were crafted for the generously proportioned, naturally lit stairs.

"Every aspect of the window was well-conceived and Kolbe was able to also adapt and provide meaningful solutions for several shaped units in the stairwell areas that were large, difficult to engineer and install," says Celli.

Supporting Bavaro Hall's LEED goals, all of these Ultra Series products feature energy-efficient LoE²-270 double-pane insulating glass. For the interior, a sustainably harvested pine wood species, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), was chosen for trim. The exteriors are clad in low-maintenance, extruded aluminum containing recycled content.

The LEED goal for the project was Silver certification. "Through the efforts of many, including Kolbe, the project reached LEED Gold," adds Celli. "Tom and his team stayed with us from beginning to end and the work was evident. We have had zero callbacks, which is remarkable when you think of all the windows and their ability to handle weather, etc."

The windows' outer, metal surfaces are finished in durable "Bavaro White" 70% fluoropolymer coating. According to Sanders, "This custom white makes even the brightest standard white look gray in comparison." Most of the windows also showcase Performance Divided Lites (PDLs) with 7/8-inch bars finished to match the frames, accentuating the classic aesthetic.

"I have heard from more than one University of Virginia official that the building and façade is the prettiest on campus," boasts Celli. "I am extremely happy with the way things turned out."

In addition to UVA's appreciation for Bavaro Hall's aesthetic connections to the campus, the building also is intended to create deeper collaborations with the Curry School of Education's colleagues across the grounds, within its walls, and beyond its physical boundaries with partners in the community and across the nation.

The $37.4 million facility was financed with private support, including a $22 million leadership gift from Daniel M. Meyers. Meyers served as the chair of the Curry Foundation and is the former CEO and co-founder of First Marblehead Corp., a Boston company that specializes in facilitating privately funded student loans. Rather than naming the building after himself, Meyers asked to name it in honor of his mentor, Anthony "Wally" D. Bavaro, a teacher for 42 years in the Boston area, who was formerly a National Football League player for the San Francisco 49ers.

In one of his last public appearances as president of UVA, John T. Casteen III dedicated Bavaro Hall, in July 2010. During his tenure, he presided over the construction or purchase of 134 buildings for UVA. During the dedication, Curry School Dean, Robert Pianta, thanked Casteen and Meyers and called the project a complicated one that "went off without a hitch." He said, "The opening of Bavaro Hall is a transformative moment in the history of the Curry School."